A reckless duke meets his match in a determined young woman – and throws her future into jeopardy with one stolen kiss.Miss Anna Hawkins, the daughter of a poor country doctor, knows the mysterious stranger who kissed her at the ball cannot really be the Duke of Beaumont. Dukes are virtuous and noble, and this man is arrogant, impudent… and dangerously seductive.When she discovers he is telling … discovers he is telling the truth, it only makes matters worse. Anna has more important problems than romance – a handsome duke is the last thing she needs.
Beaumont cannot forget Anna Hawkins. It’s not only her sharp mind and delicate features. It’s not only the flame-red hair he longs to caress. It’s not even that she is the only woman in England to say no to a duke.
Anna is not afraid to chastise Beaumont for his lack of virtue, and he has never wanted anyone more. Before long, he has only one desire: to make her his duchess.
But it takes more than a dukedom to win a woman’s heart.
This is the second book in the series Scandals of Scarcliffe Hall. You do not have to read the first book to enjoy this one! However, there are some connections between the books which will reward readers of the whole series.
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A Duke and a doctor’s daughter make a strange couple but with some twists and violence they work it all out. A sweet story of love starts with mistaken identity and misunderstandings which lead to lasting love. Lively conversations and page turning action kept me reading quickly through the story. Looking forward to reading the stories of the other characters in the series.
There are all sorts of reasons to like a book: the hero, the heroine, the plot, the writer’s style, the prose, the humor, the body of characters, the historical accuracy; but for me, it’s not often that you love the H/h equally and with passion. Anna and Beaumont in The Duke’s Hidden Passion were that for me. Beaumont is the kind of man I’d love my sons to become, and Anna, my daughter. An added bonus was Dr. Hawkins whose wisdom and humor brought this book together, raising a daughter to see people, not class and enabled her to go from a doctor’s daughter to a Duchess.
I enjoyed this well-written book with its fast pace and original plot. A village doctor who employs his daughter as his aide, takes her to the duke’s house. The duke is smitten by her and sparks fly from the very beginning…
More plot twists than I could have ever expected. Kept me on the edge of my seat and, unlike most books I read, I was unable to definitively identify the evildoer. Great book.
An other fun romance to read, I love them.
I enjoyed reading this book, even though it is part of a series. Its storyline–boy meets girl; boy wants girl; girl wants boy; problems arise problems solved; boy and girl are together–is a bit old.
This is the third with this group. They are so much fun. Gemma Blackwood. I read them one after the last. One thing I just love, everything is not about sex. Thanx for these books. To tell the truth I am busy getting more from Gamma Blackwood.
Enjoyed book!
Well written plot.
Enjoyable read!
The Duke’s Hidden Desire is a clean Regency Romance. It’s the second book in The Scandals of Scarcliffe Hall but can be read as a standalone. The characters are adorable and the plot, although uncomplicated, is well thought out. If you are looking for a feel-good story, then this is it. I read it one day.
I didn’t have any glaring issues. There were a couple of times that I rolled my eyes at silly things that were thought or said. Also, a young lady goes through morning sickness, but then there’s mention of her hiding the signs under baggy clothes a few weeks later. First-time pregnancies don’t show until much later.
Overall, it’s a lighthearted story with several narrative threads that are woven well together.
An entertaining romance.
4.5 Stars
This is the second book in the series & whilst it could easily be read on its own some events from the first book do overlap. Four friends from Eton had repaired to Scarcliffe Hall for the summer vowing to forsake female company, as soon as I read that in a book I know all four are going to fail to keep their vow. Anna Hawkins visits Scarcliffe Hall along with her doctor father to tend to the Marquis of Lilistone who’s suffering from gout. Whilst her father is blooding the Marquis she wanders into a room wanting to look at the Masquerade ball, which is happening. She’s disturbed by a gondolier who steals a kiss, the next day he pays a morning call & claims to be the Duke of Beaumont which Anna is loathe to believe. Anna is betrothed to Gilbert Jackson who has promised build a mill to bring employment to the village but she is marrying him more for the villagers sake than her own.
I was captivated from the start, the story was very well paced & held me engrossed from start to finish. Well drawn characters most of whom were very likeable, I particularly loved how Beaumont fell hook, line & sinker for Anna & how he matured & changed for the better. Anna also was attracted to him but felt she should still marry Jackson. There were plenty of light hearted moments which had me smiling. I wished Beaumont had asked Anna to call him Ben or Benjamin as it would have been lovely & very personal for his soul mate to call him by his Christian name. I look forward to Hart & Northmere’s stories
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Pretty much everything I want in a Regency romance, great heroine, strong hero (extra points as he is a Duke – my weakness in this genre) and truly well written. Totally yummy. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises. The book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.